Journalist Rob Hiaasen's family is "devastated" by his death in a shooting that killed five Thursday at a Maryland newspaper, said his brother, author Carl Hiaasen.

Carl Hiaasen, a prolific novelist and a longtime columnist for the Miami Herald, confirmed that his brother, also a columnist and an editor, was one of the Annapolis victims.

In a brief phone call with The Associated Press, Carl Hiaasen said his family "was devastated beyond words" by the senseless killing of his brother at The Capital Gazette.

"He was the most remarkable person. So gifted and talented and dedicated to journalism," he said, his voice choked with emotion.

Saying he was too wracked with grief to speak further, Hiaasen referred an AP reporter to something he had just posted to his Facebook page, describing Rob as one of the most "gentle and funny people I've ever known."

"He spent his whole gifted career as a journalist, and he believed profoundly in the craft and mission of serving the public's right to know the news.

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Erica Fischman, left, widow of Capital editor Gerald Fischman, is comforted by her daughter, Uka Saran, center, and a relative, right, during the gravesite service for Fischman at Judean Memorial Gardens, in Olney, Md. on July 8, 2018. Gerald Fischman and four other staffers were killed June 28 when a gunman attacked the Annapolis newsroom. Amy Davis, The Baltimore Sun via AP

Montana Geimer, at center in uniform, hugs a mourner following a memorial service for her mother, Wendi Winters, one of the journalists killed in the shooting at the Capital Gazette newspaper offices on July 7, 2018, in Annapolis, Md. Patrick Semansky, AP

Rick Hutzell, right, the editor for Capital Gazette, is joined by staff members, from left, reporter Selene San Felice, and photojournalists Paul W. Gillespie and Joshua McKerrow, as he rings a bell during a moment of silence at 2:33 p.m. on July 5, 2018, in Annapolis, Md., for their five colleagues who were killed a week ago in one of the deadliest attacks on journalists in U.S. history. Brian Krista, The Baltimore Sun via AP

Employees gather in the newsroom of the New York headquarters of The Associated Press on July 5, 2018, for a moment of silence for the five employees of the Capital Gazette, a Maryland newspaper, who were killed a week ago in one of the deadliest attacks on journalists in U.S. history. Richard Drew, AP

Employees stand for a moment of silence in the Baltimore Sun newsroom on July 5, 2018, in Baltimore, Md., for the five colleagues of the Capital Gazette in Annapolis, Md., who were killed a week ago in one of the deadliest attacks on journalists in U.S. history. Jerry Jackson, The Baltimore Sun via AP

Mourners gather during a memorial service for Rob Hiaasen, one of the journalists killed in the shooting at The Capital Gazette newspaper offices on July 2, 2018, in Owings Mills, Md. Patrick Semansky, AP

Carl Hiaasen, center, brother of Rob Hiaasen, one of the journalists killed in the shooting at The Capital Gazette newspaper offices, is consoled by his sisters Barb, left, and Judy during a memorial service on July 2, 2018, in Owings Mills, Md. Patrick Semansky, AP

Maria Hiaasen, second from left, widow of Rob Hiaasen, and her daughter Sam, left, react during a memorial service for Rob Hiaasen, one of the journalists killed in the shooting at the Capital Gazette newspaper offices. Patrick Semansky, AP

Boston Red Sox players and coaches participate a moment of silence for the victims of the Capital Gazette shooting prior to their game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park. Geoff Burke, USA TODAY Sports

A makeshift memorial for the the five Capital Gazette journalist killed is seen outside the office building housing The Capital Gazette newspaper in Annapolis, Md., on July 1, 2018. Prosecutors say 38-year-old Jarrod W. Ramos opened fire Thursday in the Capital Gazette newsroom killing five journalist. Jose Luis Magana, AP

Capital Gazette reporter E.B. Furgurson III looks at crosses representing his five colleagues at a makeshift memorial at the scene outside the office building housing The Capital Gazette newspaper in Annapolis, Md., on July 1, 2018. Jose Luis Magana, AP

A child looks at the five crosses representing the journalist killed, at a makeshift memorial outside the office building housing The Capital Gazette newspaper in Annapolis, Md. on July 1, 2018. Jose Luis Magana, AP

Mary Adams, owner of The Annapolis Bookstore, stands by a sign outside her store on June 30, 2018 in downtown Annapolis, Md. Adams, who knew two of the journalists who were killed in the attack on The Capital newspaper, said the shooting has made the entire community very sad. Brian Witte, AP

A women holds the June 29, 2018 edition of the Capital Gazette newpaper during a candlelight vigil on June 29 to honor the 5 people who were shot and killed the day before in Annapolis, Maryland. Jarrod Ramos of Laurel Md. Has been arrested and charged with killing 5 people at the daily newspaper. Mark Wilson, Getty Images

Summerleigh Geimer and Montana Geimer, daughters of Wendi Winters, gather for a candlelight vigil near the Capital Gazette newspaper offices in Annapolis, Md., June 29, 2018. A man armed with smoke grenades and a shotgun attacked journalists in the building Thursday, killing several, including Wendi Winters, before police stormed the building and arrested him, police and witnesses said. Jose Luis Magana, AP

Members of The Capital Gazette newspaper embrace as thousands of people prepare to march for a candle light vigil on June 29, 2018 to remember the five journalists from The Capital Gazette newspaper in Annapolis, Maryland. ROD LAMKEY JR., EPA-EFE

Mackenzie Bought, 16, plays "Amazing Grace" on the bag pipes on June 29, 2018 during a candle light vigil to remember the five journalists from The Capital Gazette newspaper in Annapolis, Md. ROD LAMKEY JR., EPA-EFE

A makeshift memorial has been started near the Capital Gazette where 5 people were shot and killed by a gunman on Thursday, on June 29, 2018 in Annapolis, Md. Jarrod Ramos of Laurel Md. Has been arrested and charged with killing 5 people at the daily newspaper. Mark Wilson, Getty Images

Sisters Kelly and Katie O'brien leave coffee and donuts for police and media, outside the offices of the Capital Gazette, where Jarrod Ramos allegedly opened fire the day before, killing at least 5. Kelly O'brien said they also brought three cases of water the night before because police didn't have enough. Jasper Colt, USA TODAY

Lynne Griffin pays her respects at a makeshift memorial near the Capital Gazette where 5 people were shot and killed by a gunman on Thursday, on June 29, 2018 in Annapolis, Md.
Mark Wilson, Getty Images

Acting chief of police William Krampf speaks at a press conference about the Capital-Gazette shooting on June 28, 2018 in Annapolis, Maryland. At least five people were killed Thursday when a gunman opened fire inside the offices of the Capital Gazette, a newspaper published in Annapolis, a historic city an hour east of Washington. A reporter for the daily, Phil Davis, tweeted that a 'gunman shot through the glass door to the office and opened fire on multiple employees.''There is nothing more terrifying than hearing multiple people get shot while you're under your desk and then hear the gunman reload,' Davis said. Alex Wroblewski, Getty Images

Pat Furgurson, staff reporter of the Capital Gazette, reports outside the scene of a shooting at the Capital Gazette building in Annapolis, Md. June 28, 2018. Five were killed and several injured in the shooting. Authorities have taken a suspect into custody. Jay Fleming, EPA-EFE

Mayor of Annapolis, Md., Gavin Buckley,
speaks to media across the street from the location where at least 5 people where killed by shooter at Capital Gazette Newspapers in Annapolis, Md. on June 28, 2018. Jack Gruber, USA TODAY

Police secure the scene of a shooting in Annapolis, Md. on June 28, 2018. A single shooter killed several people Thursday and wounded others at a newspaper in Annapolis, Maryland, and police said a suspect was in custody. Susan Walsh, AP

"We called him Big Rob because he was so tall, but it was his remarkable heart and humor that made him larger than all of us," he wrote in the posting, which included a picture of the two brothers.

The Miami Herald reported that Rob Hiaasen, 59, was a warm and witty voice in the media world. He had worked as a columnist and editor for The Capital Gazette in Annapolis, Maryland, for several years but kept lifelong connections to Florida, where he grew up and worked previously for the Palm Beach Post.